CA2050543C - Method and apparatus for drying, curing and supporting a coated strand - Google Patents
Method and apparatus for drying, curing and supporting a coated strandInfo
- Publication number
- CA2050543C CA2050543C CA 2050543 CA2050543A CA2050543C CA 2050543 C CA2050543 C CA 2050543C CA 2050543 CA2050543 CA 2050543 CA 2050543 A CA2050543 A CA 2050543A CA 2050543 C CA2050543 C CA 2050543C
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- strand
- nozzles
- nozzle
- gas
- coated
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Fee Related
Links
Classifications
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F26—DRYING
- F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
- F26B13/00—Machines and apparatus for drying fabrics, fibres, yarns, or other materials in long lengths, with progressive movement
- F26B13/001—Drying and oxidising yarns, ribbons or the like
- F26B13/002—Drying coated, e.g. enamelled, varnished, wires
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F26—DRYING
- F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
- F26B13/00—Machines and apparatus for drying fabrics, fibres, yarns, or other materials in long lengths, with progressive movement
- F26B13/001—Drying and oxidising yarns, ribbons or the like
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F26—DRYING
- F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
- F26B13/00—Machines and apparatus for drying fabrics, fibres, yarns, or other materials in long lengths, with progressive movement
- F26B13/10—Arrangements for feeding, heating or supporting materials; Controlling movement, tension or position of materials
- F26B13/101—Supporting materials without tension, e.g. on or between foraminous belts
- F26B13/104—Supporting materials without tension, e.g. on or between foraminous belts supported by fluid jets only; Fluid blowing arrangements for flotation dryers, e.g. coanda nozzles
-
- F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
- F26—DRYING
- F26B—DRYING SOLID MATERIALS OR OBJECTS BY REMOVING LIQUID THEREFROM
- F26B21/00—Arrangements or duct systems, e.g. in combination with pallet boxes, for supplying and controlling air or gases for drying solid materials or objects
- F26B21/004—Nozzle assemblies; Air knives; Air distributors; Blow boxes
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Textile Engineering (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Drying Of Solid Materials (AREA)
- Treatment Of Fiber Materials (AREA)
- Surface Treatment Of Glass Fibres Or Filaments (AREA)
- Yarns And Mechanical Finishing Of Yarns Or Ropes (AREA)
- Unwinding Of Filamentary Materials (AREA)
Abstract
A plurality of coated strands are conveyed through a drying oven. A plurality of nozzles impinge the upper surface of the coated strand as it passes therethrough. Baffle plates positioned below the strands redirect the gas stream such that, after the gas stream has passed through the strands, it is redirected so as to impinge on an opposite surface of the coated strand. The strand is supported by positioning it between an additional pair of nozzles that are tilted towards each other such that an upwardly directed gas stream issuing from the first nozzle intersects an upwardly directed gas stream issuing from the second nozzle along a line which along with the strand, forms a generally vertical plane. The combined upwardly directed force from the gas streams lifts and supports the strand while the opposing lateral force from each gas stream on the strand tend to reduce and lateral movement and stabilize its relative position.
Description
2 0 ~ 4 3 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DRYING, CURING AND
SUPPORTING A COATED STRAND
Obiect of the Invention 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to supporting and drying coated glass fiber and in particular to drying coated strands of fiber glass 10 filaments.
2a. Technical Considerations Fiber glass, which was originally developed in the 1930s, has been used over the years as fibrous strand and yarns in numerous end uses, such as textiles, reinforcement polymeric matrices, and 15 rubber goods. Glass fibers are traditionally produced through attenuation from small orifices in a bushing of a glass batch melting furnace. The glass fibers issue forth from the orifices in molten streams and are cooled and treated with a sizing composition. The sizing composition is ordinarily an aqueous composition having, e.g.
20 coupling agents, lubricants and film-forming polymer components. The sized glass fibers are gathered into one or more bundles of fibers or strands and wound into a forming package or chopped. For textile applications, the bundles of fibers in the forming packages can be twisted and/or combined with other strands to form yarns. When the 25 glass fibrous strands from the forming packages are used for reinforcement of rubber goods, a second chemical treatment or coating is usually applied to the strands to make the strands or bundles of strands compatible with the rubber matrix. In this latter application, the elastomer coating is generally applied by passing the 30 strands through a vessel containing a solution or liquid dip containing the elastomer. The wet or saturated glass fiber strands are then supported and conveyed under slight tension over rollers or the like as they pass through a heated atmosphere to dry the elastomer - 2 - 2~05~'~
coating. Some of the problems which arise with this type of drying arrangement include difficulties in processing the coated glass fiber strands over conveyor rolls, pulleys and the like without stripping off coating material and/or without depositing coating material on the 5 conveying and supporting elements and maintaining the coated product cross section during the drying process. Contact with guides and support rolls may result in buildup of coating material on guides and supports which generally degrades of the coated product and may result in the coated fibers moving out of the guides and sticking together.
One way to avoid these problems is to provide a non-contact support for the strand within the oven. For example, an air knife assembly may be positioned below the coated strands to deliver a vertically directed sheet of air to support the strands. However, the air streams to not provide any resistance to lateral movement by the 15 strands so that the strands may vibrate or move laterally within the oven and contact an adjacent strand. In an effort to maintain the separation between adjacent strands, the air knife assemblies may include vertical comb members positioned between adjacent coated strands to maintain the individual strands in spaced apart 20 relationship from each other as they advance through the oven and prevent uncured product which may still have a tacky surface from sticking to other coated strands. However, the comb arrangement does not inhibit but rather only limit the lateral movement of the strands by imposing a physical barrier to the lateral movement and further, if 25 the strands contact the comb, some of the coating may be deposited on the comb members resulting in both coating build-up on the comb as well as degradation of the coated strand.
2b. Patents of Interest U.S. Patent No. 3,619,252 to Roscher discloses coating and 30 impregnating glass fibers with an aqueous elastomer composition and then drying the coated product with high frequency electrical heaters to remove the water while not affecting the remaining elastomer ~0543 solids. The coated fiber glass passes vertically through a dielectric heater where undesirable volatile constituents of the coating are removed. The strand then makes multiple passes through a hot gas oven to cure the coating.
U.S. Patents Nos. 3,680,218 and 3,914,477 to Belue et al disclose a method of supporting and drying coated strands. The individual strands are exposed to jets of heated air from opposing slotted nozzles that are staggered relative to each other. The nozz;les produce curtains of hot air on both sides of the strand that dry the coating while suspending the coated bundles between the nozzles.
U.S. Patent No. 3,750,302 to Smith discloses an ~p~a~us for supporting a plurality of filaments. The strands advance over a planar surface that has a transverse slot across its width. A heated ple~l.l ;7P~l fluid issues from the slot and is directed along the planar surface to provide a cushion of fluid to support the overlying filaments.U.S. Patent No. 4,292,745 to Caratsch discloses an air foil dryer for drying webs of material. Upper and lower nozzle assemblies are positioned on opposite sides of the web in staggered relationship to each other. The drying air from the lower nozzle forms an air cushion that helps support the web.
U.S. Patent No. 4,698,914 to Shu et al. discloses a process for drying a flexible coated web. A series of air bags and air foils are positioned below the advancing web to float the web in a substantially flutter-free condition.
The present disclosure provides a method and appalalus for drying and curing coated strands. The coated strands are conveyed through a drying oven which includes a recirculating hot gas system which directs a hot gas stream to impinge on a first side of the coated product and then redirects the gas stream by means of deflecting baffles to impinge on another side of the coated strands so as to increase turbulent heat kansfer into the coated strands. In one particular embodiment of the invention, a plurality of nozzles are positioned along an upper plenum generally transverse to the direction in which the coated strand is conveyed through the drying oven. A plurality of baffles are positioned below the coated strands and aligned with a corresponding nozzle such that after the hot gas exits the nozzles and passes through the coated strands, the gas impinges on the baffle plates which in turn redirects the hot gas such that the gas impinges an opposite surface of the advancing strands.
n 5 4 3 The present disclosure also provides a method and a~pa~ s for supporting a strand~ The strand is positioned between a pair of nozzles that are tilted towards each other such that an upwardly directed gas stream issuing from the first nozle intersects an upwardly directed gas stream issuing from the second nozzle along a line which along with the strand, forms a generally vertical plane. The combined upwardly directed force from the gas streams lifts and supports the strand while the opposing lateral force from each gas stream on the strand tend to reduce any lateral movement and stabilize its relative position. In one particular embodiment of the invention, the strand is a coated fiber glass strand that advances through a drying and curing oven. The strand is supported at one end when the coating is applied and at its opposing end after the coating has been dried. The arrangement supports the strand within the oven, intermediate of these end supports, without any physical contact thelc;wiLh so as to m~int~in the shape and integrity of the coated strand during the drying and curing operation.
In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is provided, a method of drying a coated strand compri~ing coll~eying a coated strand in a generally linear direction, impacting a first surface of said strand with a plurality of high velocity, heated gas streams; and l~;dilectillg said gas streams so as to subsequently impact a second side of said coated strand.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is provided an a~?palalus for drying a coated strand comprising a first plenum; a second plenum, means to introduce heated gas into said first plenurn and remove said heated gas from said second plenum, means to convey coated strand between said plenums, means to direct air from said first plenum to impact a first surface of said coated strand, and means to redirect each stream of gas to subsequently impact a second side of said coated strand.
In accordance with a third aspect of the inventior~ there is provided an al)pa,alus for supporting a plurality of strands comprising pairs of first and second spaced apart nozzles wherein each of said pairs of nozzles are tilted generally towards each other such that a generally upwardly directed gas stream issuing from said first nozzle of each of said pairs of nozzles intersects a generally upwardly directed gas stream issuing from said second nozzle of said pair along a line, means to support said nozzles in a generally inclined orientation, means to allow delivery of pressurized gas to said nozzles wherein said line of intersection between gas streams from each of said pairs of first and second nozzles and a ~ 1~ 5 ~ ~ 4 ~
strand positioned b~lweell each of said pairs of nozzles each forms a generally vertical plane.
In accordance with a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of supporting a strands comprising positioning a strand belweell a pair of first and second spaced apart nozzles, tilting said nozzles generally toward each other such that a generally upwardly directed g~ stream issuing from said first nozzle of each of said pairs of nozles intersects a generally upwardly directed gas stream issuing from said second nozzle of said pair along a line, supporting said nozzles in a generally inclined orientation, providing ples~uli~d gas to said nozzles wherein said line of intersection between gas streams from each of said pairs of first and second nozzles and a strand positioned between each of said pairs of nozzles each forrns a generally vertical plane.
Embo-lim~nt~ of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of a fiber coating and drying arrangement embodying the present invention.
Figure 2 is an end view along line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing the drying oven.
Figure 3 is an enlarged elevational view through line 3-3 of Figure 2, with portions removed for clarity.
Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the nozzle and baffle plate arrangement shown inFigure 3.
Figure S is a partial elevational view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 3 showing the coated strand support arrangement.
Figure 6 is a view through line 6-6 of Figure S with portions removed for clarity.
Figure 7 is a view taken along line 7-7 of Figured6 with portions removed for clarity.
Figure 8 is a view taken along line 8-8 of Figure 6 with portions removed for clarity. -Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments The new method and structure is disclosed in combination with drying and/orstrands of fiber glass filaments coated with polymeric chemical coatings, but it should be understood that the invention can be used in any type of drying operation to improve A
-6- ~ Q ~ O ~ ~ 3 :
drying efficiency and in particular, it may be used to dry any elongated member, such as e.g., strands, yarns, cords or the like. In addition, the new method and structure can be used in any type of operation that requires support of an elongated member, such as e.g., strands, yarns, cords or the like.
Although not limiting in the present invention, in the particular embodiment discussed herein, the glass fibers are produced from any fiberizable glass batchcomposition and formed into glass fibers such as "E-glass" fibers, "621 glass" fibers, "A-glass" fibers, "S-glass" fibers, "C-glass" fibers and low fluorine and/or boron derivatives thereof. However, other coated m~teri~l~ such as carbon, graphite, nylon, polyester, polyaramid, steel and the like may be dried in accordance with the tearl ing~ herein. The glass fibers are drawn from orifices in a busing of a glass batch melting furnace and when they have cooled sufficiently, a sizing composition can be applied to them. The glass fibers can be mechanically ~ttenll~te~l or prepared by any other method known to those skilled in the art. The sizing composition can be applied to the glass fibers by any method known to those skilled in the art, such as belts, rollers, sprays and the like. The sizing composition may have present one or more of the following colllpo~ ; a coupling agent and a fiber protectorant, where the protectorant can be a fiber lubricant or a fiber film-former. The film-former can be a polymeric material that forms a film upon the evaporation of a carrier or upon drying forms a liquid film or by any other film-forming mech~ni~m known to those skilled in the art. Also, for glass fibers and other types of fibers, additional ingredients like friction-reducing agents and/or ~ti~t~tic agents may be present. Any coupling agent, fiber lubricant or fiber film-forming polymer known to those skilled in the art can be used. A non-exclusive example of a suitable aqueous sizing composition for glass fibers is that disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,390,647 to Girgis. For glass fibers, the sized glass fibers are gathered into bund1es or strands of glass fibers cont~ining from 200 to over 3,000 filaments. The strands are collected, usually by winding onto a forming package or into a precision wound package of roving.
Referring to Figure 1, a creel 12 includes a plurality of bobbins or forming packages (not shown) co~ g fiber glass strand 14. Each of the fiber glass strands 14 have been coated with a sizing composition conl:~ining a lubricant, binder and coupling agent. In the case of drawing the strand from bobbins, each strand 14 has imparted therein a twist to provide strand integrity and resistance to fuzzing during the initial -7 ~ 4 3 ;t h~n~lling and processing prior to being coated and impregnated with an elastomeric material.
The strands 14 are drawn from the packages in creel 12 in parallel relations andpassed through a guide 16 in tangent contact across motor driven rotating rollers or dip applicators 18 to a motor driven rotating wiper roller or guide 20. The dip applicators 18 are partially suspended in an aqueous rubber dip or emulsion 22 contained within vessels or tanks 24. Although not limiting in the present invention, the emulsion may be of the type disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,663,231; 4,762,750 and 4,762,751 to Girgis et al.
The dip applicators 18 are driven counter to the direction of travel of the strand 14 to improve the coating and impregnation thereof. The pickup of the rubber dip 22 by the applicators 18 and strand 14 is more than sufficient to coat and impregnate the strands 14 with the desired final amount of rubber dip 22. The wiper roller or guide 20 is driven counter to the direction of travel of the strand 14 and serves to further impregnate the strand and/or removing excess rubber dip 22 from the coated strand 14.
After coating, the strand 14 enters drying oven 26. If desired, several coated strands can be combined to form a larger bundle and, if necessary, be drawn through a forming die (not shown) to combine and form the bundle as well as remove excess coating material. After drying and curing, the coated strands 14 are wound onto a series of Lessona winders 27 or any other type of strand storing device known in the art, e.g., spindles or textile winding frame.
Referring to Figures 2 and 3, and as will be discussed later in more detail, thestrands 14 progress through the oven 26 which utilizes recirculating hot air or gas which is directed through nozzles to deliver a higher velocity gas stream which impacts one side - 8 - 2Q~
of the coated strand 14. The gas is then redirected back onto the opposite side of the strand 14 by deflector baffles which increase the turbulent heat transfer and improve drier efficiency. Specifically referring to Figure 2, blower 28 circulates gas, preferably air, 5 through oven inlet duct 30, oven 26 and oven outlet duct 32. Air intake duct 34 is positioned along inlet duct 30 and air outlet duct 36 is positioned along outlet duct 32 to provide a means to add or remove recirculating air to the system. In addition, air circulation control plates 38 are positioned within ducts 30 and 32 to 10 further control the air flow therethrough.
Air enters the oven 26 through inlet 40 of upper plenum 42.
Deflector plates 44 are secured to pivotable baffle rods 46 positioned within the upper plenum 42 to direct and distribute the incoming air to a plurality of nozzles 48. Although not limiting in the present 15 invention in the particular embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the nozzles 48 are positioned generally perpendicular and transverse to the direction of travel of the coated strands 14 through the oven 26. The lower end of the nozzles 48 preferably include a slotted opening 50 that is adjustable so as to vary the width of the nozzle 20 opening and help control the volume and velocity of air delivered by the upper plenum 42. Nozzles 48 direct high velocity air at the upper surface of the advancing strand 14.
Although not limiting in the present invention, a plurality of heating elements 52 extend into the upper plenum 42 to heat the air 25 prior to it being expelled through the nozzles 48. In the particular embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the elements 52 are electrical resistance heaters which are positioned such that the air must pass over and/or around the elements 52 to heat the moving air.
As an alternative, hot gas can be supplied to the upper plenum 42 of 30 the oven 26 from an external gas heating source (not shown).
Referring to Figures 3 and 4, below the coated strand 14, a plurality of curvilinear baffle plates 54 are supported on rods 56 and extend the width of the oven 26 to enhance heat transfer between the coated strand 14 and the heated air. The plates 54 alter the flow of air from the nozzles 48 and redirect it so that it impacts the lower surface of the strand 14 as indicated by arrows 58 (shown in Figure 4 5 only). More particularly, baffle plates 54 are positioned below each nozzle opening 50 such that air from the nozzle 48, after impinging on and passing through the advancing strands 14, is redirected by the curvilineal surface of plate 54 such that the high velocity air turns from a downward direction to an upward direction and impacts the 10 strand 14 a second time. The smooth, continuous surface of baffle plate 54 redirects the air with a ~n~ amount of air loss and turbulence to the air stream. Although not limiting in the present invention, surface portion 60 of plate 54 is preferably tangent to the air flow as it exits the nozzle 48. In the particular embodiment 15 illustrated in Figure 3, the nozzles 48 direct air downward in a vertical direction so that portion 60 is oriented in a vertical direction. Surface portion 62 of plate 54 is curved and serves to alter the vertically downward direction of the air. Surface portion 64 directs the air at a desired angle to impinge the opposite side of 20 the coated strand 14. Angle 66 of surface portion 64 is preferably within a range of 30~ to 50~ and in the particular embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, angle 66 is 45~. In addition, baffle plates 54 are preferably oriented so that the redirected air flow has a component that is parallel to but in the opposite direction from the 25 advancing coated strand 14 indicated by arrow 67. After passing over baffle plate 54 and impinging on the coated strand 14, the heated gas is drawn out of the oven 26 through lower p~enum 68. Additional deflector plates 70 and adjusting rods 72 are positioned within the lower plenum 68 to control and adjust the air flow therethrough.
When the drying oven 26 is oriented such that the strand 14 passes therethrough in a horizontal direction, additional means are required to supportthe strand 14 to reduce 20~0~4~
sagging of the strand during drying. If desired, support rolls (not shown) may be positioned along the path of the strand to support it as it advances through the oven 26. However, since such rolls must physically contact the strand 14 to provide the desired support, this 5 contact may change the shape of the coated strand 14 and/or remove some of the coating from the strand 14, resulting in buildup of the coating at the contact points. Therefore, it is preferred that the strand be supported by a non-contact strand support assembly 74.
Although not limiting in the present invention, in the particular 10 embodiment of the support assembly 74 illustrated in Figures 5-7, the support assembly 74 includes an air supply header 76 which is pivotally mounted from support member 78 by collar assembly 80 such that it is positioned above and generally transverse to the coated strands 14. A plurality of nozzle assemblies 82 extend downwardly 15 from the header 76 in a generally spaced apart and parallel orientation to provide clearance therebetween for each strand 14.
Although not limiting in the present invention, each nozzle assembly 82 includes a pair of U-shaped members 84 and 86. Header 76 is scalloped to receive member 86, which is secured to the header 74 20 so as to hold the assembly 82 in place. The spacing between legs 88 of member 84 is slightly less than the spacing between legs 90 of member 86 so that when the members are mated and secured to each other as shown in Figure 7, a narrow gap provides a nozzle opening 92 between each pair of adjacent legs, forming a pair of nozzles 94 and 25 96. The width of the nozzle opening 92 is generally between 0.010 and 0.020 inches (0.25 to 0.50 mm) depending on the material being dried and the volume of air provided through header 76. Although not limiting in the present invention, in one particular embodiment, the width of opening 92 was 0.020 in (0.50 mm) and the air flow through 30 the support assembly 74 was 20 to 40 CFM (0.57 to 1.13 m3 per min).
Air provided from a pressurized air source (not shown) is pumped through fitting 98 at collar assembly 80 into header 76. The pressurized air then passes through opening 100 in lower U-shaped member 86 and into the nozzle assemblies 82. Plates 102 and 104 seal the front and back of each nozzle assembly 82.
The nozzle assemblies 82 are inclined relative to the 5 strand 14 as shown in Figure 6 and nozzles 94 and 96 from adjacent nozzle assemblies 82 are inclined relative to each other such that a curtain of air from nozzle 94 of one nozzle assembly 82 represented by dotted line 95 intersects a curtain of air from nozzle 96 of adjacent nozzle assembly 82 represented by dotted line 97 along a line that 10 generally lies in the same plane as any vertical movement of the strand 14 as it is conveyed through the drying oven 26 as illustrated in Figure 8. Any lateral force applied to the strand 14 by one nozzle will be opposed by equal lateral force exerted by an adjacent nozzle on an ad~acent nozzle assembly. In addition, the vertical forces from 15 the air stream will be additive. Furthermore, the lateral forces from each stream of air will tend to stabilize any lateral vibration of the strand 14 as it progresses through the oven 26. In this manner, the air streams will tend to lift and support the strand 14 as it is conveyed through the oven 26 as well as tend to maintain any movement 20 of the strand in a generally vertical plane parallel to the direction in which a strand is being conveyed through oven 26.
The length, L, of the nozzle opening 92 is a function of the angle, A, of the nozzle assembly 82 and the anticipated vertical movement, V, of the strand 14 as it is conveyed through the oven 26.
25 In practice, length L is preferrably slightly greater than V/sin A.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, angle A is 45~ so that length L is slightly greater than 1.41V. Nozzle openings 92 outside the preferred length can be sealed, for example, by welding. In addition, it is preferred that the support assembly 74 is positioned 30 such that the nozzle openings 92 are centered along the midpoint of the expected vertical movement V of the strand 14.
- 12 - 2Q~ 3 Referring to Figures 6 and 7 J an alignment plate 106 is pivotally hung from header 76 via collars 108 and is used to maintain strand alignment when the oven 26 is being rethreaded with strand 14.
In particular, the plate 106 includes a plurality of spaced apart 5 fingers 110 which are aligned with a corresponding nozzle assembly 82 such that the space 112 between pairs of fingers 110 corresponds to the space between each nozzle assembly 82 and thus the location of the strand 14 as it is conveyed through the oven 26. In practice during a rethreading operation, a rethreading bar (not shown) with the 10 strands 14 attached thereto at their preferred spacing, is passed through the oven 26 from right to left as viewed in Figure 1. As the bar reaches the support assembly 74, it lifts and pivots first alignment plate 106 and then nozzle assemblies 82 upward and out of the way of the bar. Referring to Figure 6, this would be a clockwise 15 rotation about header 76. As the bar continues through the oven 26, it passes the plate 106 allowing it to swing back into position while still lifting the nozzle assemblies 82. The fingers 110 maintain the aligned position of the strands 14 at the support assembly until the bar passes the nozzle assemblies 82 allowing them to fall back into 20 place to their original position. A stop member 114 is positioned to limit the downward rotation of the nozzle assemblies in support assembly 74.
It should be appreciated by one skilled in the art that other methods may be used to provide a non-contact support for the 25 strand. For example, an air knife assembly (not shown) may be positioned below the coated strands 14 to deliver an upwardly directed sheet of air to support the strands 14, as is known in the art. In addition, the air knife assemblies may also include vertical comb members positioned between adjacent coated strands 14 to maintain the 30 individual strands 14 in spaced apart relationship from each other as they advance through the oven 26 and prevent uncured product which may still have a tacky surface from sticking to other coated strands.
- 13 - 2~0~
As an alternative to using rolls or air to support the coated strand, depending on the type of product, tension may be applied to the coated strand 14 to support it as it advances through the oven 26.
In one particular embodiment of the invention, coated strands were dried using two 10-foot long ovens of the type shown in Figures 2 and 3 and as previously discussed. Each oven included 30 nozzles with 0.5 inch (1.27 cm) wide nozzle openings. Strand speed varied from 45 to 300 feet per minute (14 to 92 meters per minute) 10 depending on the strand and the coating thickness. Minimum coated strand spacing was set at 0.75 inches (1.91 cm). Air was delivered through the nozzle openings at a speed of 2,000 to 5,000 feet per minute (610 to 1,524 meters per minute) and at a temperature between 400~F to 700~F (204~C to 371~C) and preferably at 3,000 to 4,000 feet 15 per minute (915 to 1,220 meters per minute) and 500~F to 600~F (260~C
to 316~C). It was found that coated strands processed by these ovens dried and cured at a rate approximately four times faster than conventional hot air ovens.
The form of the invention shown and described in this 20 disclosure represents an illustrative preferred embodiment thereof.
It is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the teachings of the invention defined by the claimed subject matter which follows.
SUPPORTING A COATED STRAND
Obiect of the Invention 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to supporting and drying coated glass fiber and in particular to drying coated strands of fiber glass 10 filaments.
2a. Technical Considerations Fiber glass, which was originally developed in the 1930s, has been used over the years as fibrous strand and yarns in numerous end uses, such as textiles, reinforcement polymeric matrices, and 15 rubber goods. Glass fibers are traditionally produced through attenuation from small orifices in a bushing of a glass batch melting furnace. The glass fibers issue forth from the orifices in molten streams and are cooled and treated with a sizing composition. The sizing composition is ordinarily an aqueous composition having, e.g.
20 coupling agents, lubricants and film-forming polymer components. The sized glass fibers are gathered into one or more bundles of fibers or strands and wound into a forming package or chopped. For textile applications, the bundles of fibers in the forming packages can be twisted and/or combined with other strands to form yarns. When the 25 glass fibrous strands from the forming packages are used for reinforcement of rubber goods, a second chemical treatment or coating is usually applied to the strands to make the strands or bundles of strands compatible with the rubber matrix. In this latter application, the elastomer coating is generally applied by passing the 30 strands through a vessel containing a solution or liquid dip containing the elastomer. The wet or saturated glass fiber strands are then supported and conveyed under slight tension over rollers or the like as they pass through a heated atmosphere to dry the elastomer - 2 - 2~05~'~
coating. Some of the problems which arise with this type of drying arrangement include difficulties in processing the coated glass fiber strands over conveyor rolls, pulleys and the like without stripping off coating material and/or without depositing coating material on the 5 conveying and supporting elements and maintaining the coated product cross section during the drying process. Contact with guides and support rolls may result in buildup of coating material on guides and supports which generally degrades of the coated product and may result in the coated fibers moving out of the guides and sticking together.
One way to avoid these problems is to provide a non-contact support for the strand within the oven. For example, an air knife assembly may be positioned below the coated strands to deliver a vertically directed sheet of air to support the strands. However, the air streams to not provide any resistance to lateral movement by the 15 strands so that the strands may vibrate or move laterally within the oven and contact an adjacent strand. In an effort to maintain the separation between adjacent strands, the air knife assemblies may include vertical comb members positioned between adjacent coated strands to maintain the individual strands in spaced apart 20 relationship from each other as they advance through the oven and prevent uncured product which may still have a tacky surface from sticking to other coated strands. However, the comb arrangement does not inhibit but rather only limit the lateral movement of the strands by imposing a physical barrier to the lateral movement and further, if 25 the strands contact the comb, some of the coating may be deposited on the comb members resulting in both coating build-up on the comb as well as degradation of the coated strand.
2b. Patents of Interest U.S. Patent No. 3,619,252 to Roscher discloses coating and 30 impregnating glass fibers with an aqueous elastomer composition and then drying the coated product with high frequency electrical heaters to remove the water while not affecting the remaining elastomer ~0543 solids. The coated fiber glass passes vertically through a dielectric heater where undesirable volatile constituents of the coating are removed. The strand then makes multiple passes through a hot gas oven to cure the coating.
U.S. Patents Nos. 3,680,218 and 3,914,477 to Belue et al disclose a method of supporting and drying coated strands. The individual strands are exposed to jets of heated air from opposing slotted nozzles that are staggered relative to each other. The nozz;les produce curtains of hot air on both sides of the strand that dry the coating while suspending the coated bundles between the nozzles.
U.S. Patent No. 3,750,302 to Smith discloses an ~p~a~us for supporting a plurality of filaments. The strands advance over a planar surface that has a transverse slot across its width. A heated ple~l.l ;7P~l fluid issues from the slot and is directed along the planar surface to provide a cushion of fluid to support the overlying filaments.U.S. Patent No. 4,292,745 to Caratsch discloses an air foil dryer for drying webs of material. Upper and lower nozzle assemblies are positioned on opposite sides of the web in staggered relationship to each other. The drying air from the lower nozzle forms an air cushion that helps support the web.
U.S. Patent No. 4,698,914 to Shu et al. discloses a process for drying a flexible coated web. A series of air bags and air foils are positioned below the advancing web to float the web in a substantially flutter-free condition.
The present disclosure provides a method and appalalus for drying and curing coated strands. The coated strands are conveyed through a drying oven which includes a recirculating hot gas system which directs a hot gas stream to impinge on a first side of the coated product and then redirects the gas stream by means of deflecting baffles to impinge on another side of the coated strands so as to increase turbulent heat kansfer into the coated strands. In one particular embodiment of the invention, a plurality of nozzles are positioned along an upper plenum generally transverse to the direction in which the coated strand is conveyed through the drying oven. A plurality of baffles are positioned below the coated strands and aligned with a corresponding nozzle such that after the hot gas exits the nozzles and passes through the coated strands, the gas impinges on the baffle plates which in turn redirects the hot gas such that the gas impinges an opposite surface of the advancing strands.
n 5 4 3 The present disclosure also provides a method and a~pa~ s for supporting a strand~ The strand is positioned between a pair of nozzles that are tilted towards each other such that an upwardly directed gas stream issuing from the first nozle intersects an upwardly directed gas stream issuing from the second nozzle along a line which along with the strand, forms a generally vertical plane. The combined upwardly directed force from the gas streams lifts and supports the strand while the opposing lateral force from each gas stream on the strand tend to reduce any lateral movement and stabilize its relative position. In one particular embodiment of the invention, the strand is a coated fiber glass strand that advances through a drying and curing oven. The strand is supported at one end when the coating is applied and at its opposing end after the coating has been dried. The arrangement supports the strand within the oven, intermediate of these end supports, without any physical contact thelc;wiLh so as to m~int~in the shape and integrity of the coated strand during the drying and curing operation.
In accordance with a first aspect of the invention there is provided, a method of drying a coated strand compri~ing coll~eying a coated strand in a generally linear direction, impacting a first surface of said strand with a plurality of high velocity, heated gas streams; and l~;dilectillg said gas streams so as to subsequently impact a second side of said coated strand.
In accordance with a second aspect of the invention there is provided an a~?palalus for drying a coated strand comprising a first plenum; a second plenum, means to introduce heated gas into said first plenurn and remove said heated gas from said second plenum, means to convey coated strand between said plenums, means to direct air from said first plenum to impact a first surface of said coated strand, and means to redirect each stream of gas to subsequently impact a second side of said coated strand.
In accordance with a third aspect of the inventior~ there is provided an al)pa,alus for supporting a plurality of strands comprising pairs of first and second spaced apart nozzles wherein each of said pairs of nozzles are tilted generally towards each other such that a generally upwardly directed gas stream issuing from said first nozzle of each of said pairs of nozzles intersects a generally upwardly directed gas stream issuing from said second nozzle of said pair along a line, means to support said nozzles in a generally inclined orientation, means to allow delivery of pressurized gas to said nozzles wherein said line of intersection between gas streams from each of said pairs of first and second nozzles and a ~ 1~ 5 ~ ~ 4 ~
strand positioned b~lweell each of said pairs of nozzles each forms a generally vertical plane.
In accordance with a fourth aspect of the invention there is provided a method of supporting a strands comprising positioning a strand belweell a pair of first and second spaced apart nozzles, tilting said nozzles generally toward each other such that a generally upwardly directed g~ stream issuing from said first nozzle of each of said pairs of nozles intersects a generally upwardly directed gas stream issuing from said second nozzle of said pair along a line, supporting said nozzles in a generally inclined orientation, providing ples~uli~d gas to said nozzles wherein said line of intersection between gas streams from each of said pairs of first and second nozzles and a strand positioned between each of said pairs of nozzles each forrns a generally vertical plane.
Embo-lim~nt~ of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Brief Description of the Drawings Figure 1 is a plan view of a fiber coating and drying arrangement embodying the present invention.
Figure 2 is an end view along line 2-2 of Figure 1 showing the drying oven.
Figure 3 is an enlarged elevational view through line 3-3 of Figure 2, with portions removed for clarity.
Figure 4 is an enlarged view of the nozzle and baffle plate arrangement shown inFigure 3.
Figure S is a partial elevational view taken along line 5-5 of Figure 3 showing the coated strand support arrangement.
Figure 6 is a view through line 6-6 of Figure S with portions removed for clarity.
Figure 7 is a view taken along line 7-7 of Figured6 with portions removed for clarity.
Figure 8 is a view taken along line 8-8 of Figure 6 with portions removed for clarity. -Detailed Description of the Preferred Embodiments The new method and structure is disclosed in combination with drying and/orstrands of fiber glass filaments coated with polymeric chemical coatings, but it should be understood that the invention can be used in any type of drying operation to improve A
-6- ~ Q ~ O ~ ~ 3 :
drying efficiency and in particular, it may be used to dry any elongated member, such as e.g., strands, yarns, cords or the like. In addition, the new method and structure can be used in any type of operation that requires support of an elongated member, such as e.g., strands, yarns, cords or the like.
Although not limiting in the present invention, in the particular embodiment discussed herein, the glass fibers are produced from any fiberizable glass batchcomposition and formed into glass fibers such as "E-glass" fibers, "621 glass" fibers, "A-glass" fibers, "S-glass" fibers, "C-glass" fibers and low fluorine and/or boron derivatives thereof. However, other coated m~teri~l~ such as carbon, graphite, nylon, polyester, polyaramid, steel and the like may be dried in accordance with the tearl ing~ herein. The glass fibers are drawn from orifices in a busing of a glass batch melting furnace and when they have cooled sufficiently, a sizing composition can be applied to them. The glass fibers can be mechanically ~ttenll~te~l or prepared by any other method known to those skilled in the art. The sizing composition can be applied to the glass fibers by any method known to those skilled in the art, such as belts, rollers, sprays and the like. The sizing composition may have present one or more of the following colllpo~ ; a coupling agent and a fiber protectorant, where the protectorant can be a fiber lubricant or a fiber film-former. The film-former can be a polymeric material that forms a film upon the evaporation of a carrier or upon drying forms a liquid film or by any other film-forming mech~ni~m known to those skilled in the art. Also, for glass fibers and other types of fibers, additional ingredients like friction-reducing agents and/or ~ti~t~tic agents may be present. Any coupling agent, fiber lubricant or fiber film-forming polymer known to those skilled in the art can be used. A non-exclusive example of a suitable aqueous sizing composition for glass fibers is that disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 4,390,647 to Girgis. For glass fibers, the sized glass fibers are gathered into bund1es or strands of glass fibers cont~ining from 200 to over 3,000 filaments. The strands are collected, usually by winding onto a forming package or into a precision wound package of roving.
Referring to Figure 1, a creel 12 includes a plurality of bobbins or forming packages (not shown) co~ g fiber glass strand 14. Each of the fiber glass strands 14 have been coated with a sizing composition conl:~ining a lubricant, binder and coupling agent. In the case of drawing the strand from bobbins, each strand 14 has imparted therein a twist to provide strand integrity and resistance to fuzzing during the initial -7 ~ 4 3 ;t h~n~lling and processing prior to being coated and impregnated with an elastomeric material.
The strands 14 are drawn from the packages in creel 12 in parallel relations andpassed through a guide 16 in tangent contact across motor driven rotating rollers or dip applicators 18 to a motor driven rotating wiper roller or guide 20. The dip applicators 18 are partially suspended in an aqueous rubber dip or emulsion 22 contained within vessels or tanks 24. Although not limiting in the present invention, the emulsion may be of the type disclosed in U.S. Patent Nos. 4,663,231; 4,762,750 and 4,762,751 to Girgis et al.
The dip applicators 18 are driven counter to the direction of travel of the strand 14 to improve the coating and impregnation thereof. The pickup of the rubber dip 22 by the applicators 18 and strand 14 is more than sufficient to coat and impregnate the strands 14 with the desired final amount of rubber dip 22. The wiper roller or guide 20 is driven counter to the direction of travel of the strand 14 and serves to further impregnate the strand and/or removing excess rubber dip 22 from the coated strand 14.
After coating, the strand 14 enters drying oven 26. If desired, several coated strands can be combined to form a larger bundle and, if necessary, be drawn through a forming die (not shown) to combine and form the bundle as well as remove excess coating material. After drying and curing, the coated strands 14 are wound onto a series of Lessona winders 27 or any other type of strand storing device known in the art, e.g., spindles or textile winding frame.
Referring to Figures 2 and 3, and as will be discussed later in more detail, thestrands 14 progress through the oven 26 which utilizes recirculating hot air or gas which is directed through nozzles to deliver a higher velocity gas stream which impacts one side - 8 - 2Q~
of the coated strand 14. The gas is then redirected back onto the opposite side of the strand 14 by deflector baffles which increase the turbulent heat transfer and improve drier efficiency. Specifically referring to Figure 2, blower 28 circulates gas, preferably air, 5 through oven inlet duct 30, oven 26 and oven outlet duct 32. Air intake duct 34 is positioned along inlet duct 30 and air outlet duct 36 is positioned along outlet duct 32 to provide a means to add or remove recirculating air to the system. In addition, air circulation control plates 38 are positioned within ducts 30 and 32 to 10 further control the air flow therethrough.
Air enters the oven 26 through inlet 40 of upper plenum 42.
Deflector plates 44 are secured to pivotable baffle rods 46 positioned within the upper plenum 42 to direct and distribute the incoming air to a plurality of nozzles 48. Although not limiting in the present 15 invention in the particular embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the nozzles 48 are positioned generally perpendicular and transverse to the direction of travel of the coated strands 14 through the oven 26. The lower end of the nozzles 48 preferably include a slotted opening 50 that is adjustable so as to vary the width of the nozzle 20 opening and help control the volume and velocity of air delivered by the upper plenum 42. Nozzles 48 direct high velocity air at the upper surface of the advancing strand 14.
Although not limiting in the present invention, a plurality of heating elements 52 extend into the upper plenum 42 to heat the air 25 prior to it being expelled through the nozzles 48. In the particular embodiment illustrated in Figures 2 and 3, the elements 52 are electrical resistance heaters which are positioned such that the air must pass over and/or around the elements 52 to heat the moving air.
As an alternative, hot gas can be supplied to the upper plenum 42 of 30 the oven 26 from an external gas heating source (not shown).
Referring to Figures 3 and 4, below the coated strand 14, a plurality of curvilinear baffle plates 54 are supported on rods 56 and extend the width of the oven 26 to enhance heat transfer between the coated strand 14 and the heated air. The plates 54 alter the flow of air from the nozzles 48 and redirect it so that it impacts the lower surface of the strand 14 as indicated by arrows 58 (shown in Figure 4 5 only). More particularly, baffle plates 54 are positioned below each nozzle opening 50 such that air from the nozzle 48, after impinging on and passing through the advancing strands 14, is redirected by the curvilineal surface of plate 54 such that the high velocity air turns from a downward direction to an upward direction and impacts the 10 strand 14 a second time. The smooth, continuous surface of baffle plate 54 redirects the air with a ~n~ amount of air loss and turbulence to the air stream. Although not limiting in the present invention, surface portion 60 of plate 54 is preferably tangent to the air flow as it exits the nozzle 48. In the particular embodiment 15 illustrated in Figure 3, the nozzles 48 direct air downward in a vertical direction so that portion 60 is oriented in a vertical direction. Surface portion 62 of plate 54 is curved and serves to alter the vertically downward direction of the air. Surface portion 64 directs the air at a desired angle to impinge the opposite side of 20 the coated strand 14. Angle 66 of surface portion 64 is preferably within a range of 30~ to 50~ and in the particular embodiment illustrated in Figure 3, angle 66 is 45~. In addition, baffle plates 54 are preferably oriented so that the redirected air flow has a component that is parallel to but in the opposite direction from the 25 advancing coated strand 14 indicated by arrow 67. After passing over baffle plate 54 and impinging on the coated strand 14, the heated gas is drawn out of the oven 26 through lower p~enum 68. Additional deflector plates 70 and adjusting rods 72 are positioned within the lower plenum 68 to control and adjust the air flow therethrough.
When the drying oven 26 is oriented such that the strand 14 passes therethrough in a horizontal direction, additional means are required to supportthe strand 14 to reduce 20~0~4~
sagging of the strand during drying. If desired, support rolls (not shown) may be positioned along the path of the strand to support it as it advances through the oven 26. However, since such rolls must physically contact the strand 14 to provide the desired support, this 5 contact may change the shape of the coated strand 14 and/or remove some of the coating from the strand 14, resulting in buildup of the coating at the contact points. Therefore, it is preferred that the strand be supported by a non-contact strand support assembly 74.
Although not limiting in the present invention, in the particular 10 embodiment of the support assembly 74 illustrated in Figures 5-7, the support assembly 74 includes an air supply header 76 which is pivotally mounted from support member 78 by collar assembly 80 such that it is positioned above and generally transverse to the coated strands 14. A plurality of nozzle assemblies 82 extend downwardly 15 from the header 76 in a generally spaced apart and parallel orientation to provide clearance therebetween for each strand 14.
Although not limiting in the present invention, each nozzle assembly 82 includes a pair of U-shaped members 84 and 86. Header 76 is scalloped to receive member 86, which is secured to the header 74 20 so as to hold the assembly 82 in place. The spacing between legs 88 of member 84 is slightly less than the spacing between legs 90 of member 86 so that when the members are mated and secured to each other as shown in Figure 7, a narrow gap provides a nozzle opening 92 between each pair of adjacent legs, forming a pair of nozzles 94 and 25 96. The width of the nozzle opening 92 is generally between 0.010 and 0.020 inches (0.25 to 0.50 mm) depending on the material being dried and the volume of air provided through header 76. Although not limiting in the present invention, in one particular embodiment, the width of opening 92 was 0.020 in (0.50 mm) and the air flow through 30 the support assembly 74 was 20 to 40 CFM (0.57 to 1.13 m3 per min).
Air provided from a pressurized air source (not shown) is pumped through fitting 98 at collar assembly 80 into header 76. The pressurized air then passes through opening 100 in lower U-shaped member 86 and into the nozzle assemblies 82. Plates 102 and 104 seal the front and back of each nozzle assembly 82.
The nozzle assemblies 82 are inclined relative to the 5 strand 14 as shown in Figure 6 and nozzles 94 and 96 from adjacent nozzle assemblies 82 are inclined relative to each other such that a curtain of air from nozzle 94 of one nozzle assembly 82 represented by dotted line 95 intersects a curtain of air from nozzle 96 of adjacent nozzle assembly 82 represented by dotted line 97 along a line that 10 generally lies in the same plane as any vertical movement of the strand 14 as it is conveyed through the drying oven 26 as illustrated in Figure 8. Any lateral force applied to the strand 14 by one nozzle will be opposed by equal lateral force exerted by an adjacent nozzle on an ad~acent nozzle assembly. In addition, the vertical forces from 15 the air stream will be additive. Furthermore, the lateral forces from each stream of air will tend to stabilize any lateral vibration of the strand 14 as it progresses through the oven 26. In this manner, the air streams will tend to lift and support the strand 14 as it is conveyed through the oven 26 as well as tend to maintain any movement 20 of the strand in a generally vertical plane parallel to the direction in which a strand is being conveyed through oven 26.
The length, L, of the nozzle opening 92 is a function of the angle, A, of the nozzle assembly 82 and the anticipated vertical movement, V, of the strand 14 as it is conveyed through the oven 26.
25 In practice, length L is preferrably slightly greater than V/sin A.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, angle A is 45~ so that length L is slightly greater than 1.41V. Nozzle openings 92 outside the preferred length can be sealed, for example, by welding. In addition, it is preferred that the support assembly 74 is positioned 30 such that the nozzle openings 92 are centered along the midpoint of the expected vertical movement V of the strand 14.
- 12 - 2Q~ 3 Referring to Figures 6 and 7 J an alignment plate 106 is pivotally hung from header 76 via collars 108 and is used to maintain strand alignment when the oven 26 is being rethreaded with strand 14.
In particular, the plate 106 includes a plurality of spaced apart 5 fingers 110 which are aligned with a corresponding nozzle assembly 82 such that the space 112 between pairs of fingers 110 corresponds to the space between each nozzle assembly 82 and thus the location of the strand 14 as it is conveyed through the oven 26. In practice during a rethreading operation, a rethreading bar (not shown) with the 10 strands 14 attached thereto at their preferred spacing, is passed through the oven 26 from right to left as viewed in Figure 1. As the bar reaches the support assembly 74, it lifts and pivots first alignment plate 106 and then nozzle assemblies 82 upward and out of the way of the bar. Referring to Figure 6, this would be a clockwise 15 rotation about header 76. As the bar continues through the oven 26, it passes the plate 106 allowing it to swing back into position while still lifting the nozzle assemblies 82. The fingers 110 maintain the aligned position of the strands 14 at the support assembly until the bar passes the nozzle assemblies 82 allowing them to fall back into 20 place to their original position. A stop member 114 is positioned to limit the downward rotation of the nozzle assemblies in support assembly 74.
It should be appreciated by one skilled in the art that other methods may be used to provide a non-contact support for the 25 strand. For example, an air knife assembly (not shown) may be positioned below the coated strands 14 to deliver an upwardly directed sheet of air to support the strands 14, as is known in the art. In addition, the air knife assemblies may also include vertical comb members positioned between adjacent coated strands 14 to maintain the 30 individual strands 14 in spaced apart relationship from each other as they advance through the oven 26 and prevent uncured product which may still have a tacky surface from sticking to other coated strands.
- 13 - 2~0~
As an alternative to using rolls or air to support the coated strand, depending on the type of product, tension may be applied to the coated strand 14 to support it as it advances through the oven 26.
In one particular embodiment of the invention, coated strands were dried using two 10-foot long ovens of the type shown in Figures 2 and 3 and as previously discussed. Each oven included 30 nozzles with 0.5 inch (1.27 cm) wide nozzle openings. Strand speed varied from 45 to 300 feet per minute (14 to 92 meters per minute) 10 depending on the strand and the coating thickness. Minimum coated strand spacing was set at 0.75 inches (1.91 cm). Air was delivered through the nozzle openings at a speed of 2,000 to 5,000 feet per minute (610 to 1,524 meters per minute) and at a temperature between 400~F to 700~F (204~C to 371~C) and preferably at 3,000 to 4,000 feet 15 per minute (915 to 1,220 meters per minute) and 500~F to 600~F (260~C
to 316~C). It was found that coated strands processed by these ovens dried and cured at a rate approximately four times faster than conventional hot air ovens.
The form of the invention shown and described in this 20 disclosure represents an illustrative preferred embodiment thereof.
It is understood that various changes may be made without departing from the teachings of the invention defined by the claimed subject matter which follows.
Claims (36)
1. A method of drying a coated strand comprising:
conveying a coated strand in a generally linear direction;
impacting a first surface of said strand with a plurality of high velocity, heated gas streams; and redirecting said gas streams so as to subsequently impact an second side of said coated strand.
conveying a coated strand in a generally linear direction;
impacting a first surface of said strand with a plurality of high velocity, heated gas streams; and redirecting said gas streams so as to subsequently impact an second side of said coated strand.
2. The method as in claim 1 wherein said conveying step includes conveying a plurality of coated strands in parallel, spaced apart orientation.
3. The method as in claim 2 wherein said redirecting step includes the step of positioning baffle plates along said second side of said strands and directing said gas streams along a surface of said baffle plates to direct said gas streams towards said second side of said strands.
4. The method of claim 3 further including the step of recirculating at least a portion of said gas stream after said redirecting step and practicing said impacting and redirecting step in part with said recirculated gas.
5. The method as in claim 3 wherein said redirecting step further includes the step of directing said gas streams such that they impact said second side of said strand at an acute angle relative to such strand.
6. The method as in claim 5 wherein said second side is the side of said strand opposite said first side.
7. The method as in claim 5 wherein said redirecting step directs said gas stream at an angle 45° relative to said coated strand.
8. The method as in claim 3 wherein said redirecting step further includes the step of directing said gas stream such that it has a component parallel to said strand in a direction opposite to the conveyed direction of said strand.
9. The method as in claim 8 wherein said coated strand is conveyed in a horizontal direction and said first surface of said strand is its upper surface and said second surface is its lower surface.
10. The method of claim 9 further including the step of supporting said strands at locations intermediate of its ends during said conveying, impacting and redirecting steps.
11. The method as in claim 10 wherein said supporting step includes directing additional streams of gas upward against said lower surface of said strand to support said strand.
12. The method as in claim 11 wherein said redirecting step further includes the step of directing said gas stream such that it has a component parallel to said strand in a direction opposite to the conveyed direction of said strand.
13. The method of claim 12 further including the step of recirculating at least a portion of said gas stream after said redirecting step and practicing said impacting and redirecting step in part with said recirculated gas.
14. An apparatus for drying a coated strand comprising:
a first plenum;
a second plenum;
means to introduce heated gas into said first plenum and remove said heated gas from said second plenum;
means to convey coated strand between said plenums;
means to direct air from said first plenum to impact a first surface of said coated strand; and means to redirect each stream of gas to subsequently impact a second side of said coated strand.
a first plenum;
a second plenum;
means to introduce heated gas into said first plenum and remove said heated gas from said second plenum;
means to convey coated strand between said plenums;
means to direct air from said first plenum to impact a first surface of said coated strand; and means to redirect each stream of gas to subsequently impact a second side of said coated strand.
15. The apparatus as in claim 14 wherein said directing means includes a plurality of nozzles positioned generally transverse to the direction of said strand conveyance and said redirecting means includes a plurality of baffle plates positioned between said plenums such that said strand is conveyed between said baffle plates and said nozzles, wherein each of said baffle plates is aligned with a corresponding nozzle.
16. The apparatus as in claim 15 wherein said baffle plate includes a first surface portion to receive said heated gas after it has initially passed between said strands and impacted said strands' first surface, a second curvilinear portion to redirect said gas stream and a third surface portion to guide said gas stream against said second side of said strand.
17. The apparatus as in claim 16 wherein said first surface portion of said baffle plate is parallel to said directed gas stream.
18. The apparatus as in claim 16 wherein said third surface of said baffle plate is at an acute angle relative to said coated strand.
19. The apparatus as in claim 16 wherein said conveying means conveys said strand in a generally horizontal direction, said first and second surfaces of said strand are its upper and lower surfaces, respectively, and said first and second plenum are upper and lower plenums, respectively.
20. The apparatus as in claim 19 further including means to support said strand within said lower plenum.
21. The apparatus as in claim 20 wherein said support means includes means to direct additional gas streams upward against said lower surface of said strand to support said strand.
22. The apparatus as in claim 20 further including means to recirculate at least a portion of gas removed from said lower plenum into said upper plenum.
23. The apparatus as in claim 22 wherein said first surface portion of said baffle plate is parallel to said directed gas stream and said third surface portion of said baffle plate is at as acute angle relative to said coated strand.
24. An apparatus for supporting a plurality of strands comprising:
pairs of first and second spaced apart nozzles wherein each of said pairs of nozzles are tilted generally towards each other such that a generally upwardly directed gas stream issuing from said first nozzle of each of said pairs of nozzles intersects a generally upwardly directed gas stream issuing from said second nozzle of said pair along a line;
means to support said nozzles in a generally inclined orientation;
means to allow delivery of pressurized gas to said nozzles wherein said line of intersection between gas streams from each of said pairs of first and second nozzles and a strand positioned between each of said pairs of nozzles each forms a generally vertical plane.
pairs of first and second spaced apart nozzles wherein each of said pairs of nozzles are tilted generally towards each other such that a generally upwardly directed gas stream issuing from said first nozzle of each of said pairs of nozzles intersects a generally upwardly directed gas stream issuing from said second nozzle of said pair along a line;
means to support said nozzles in a generally inclined orientation;
means to allow delivery of pressurized gas to said nozzles wherein said line of intersection between gas streams from each of said pairs of first and second nozzles and a strand positioned between each of said pairs of nozzles each forms a generally vertical plane.
25. The apparatus as in claim 24 further including a plurality of adjacent nozzle assemblies each having first and second nozzles wherein said first nozzle of a first nozzle assembly is spaced from and tilted toward said second nozzle of a second nozzle assembly adjacent to said first nozzle assembly.
26. The apparatus as in claim 24 wherein said nozzles are inclined at an angle of approximately 45 degrees.
27. The apparatus as in claim 25 further including means to pivotally mount said nozzle assemblies to allow rotational movement of said assemblies about a horizontal axis generally transverse to said strand.
28. The apparatus as in claim 27 further including an alignment plate having spaced apart fingers such that the spacing between adjacent fingers generally corresponds to the spacing between said first and second nozzles on adjacent nozzles assemblies.
29. The apparatus as in claim 28 further including means to pivotally mount said alignment plate relative to said nozzle assemblies.
30. The apparatus as in claim 28 wherein each of said nozzle assemblies include a first generally U-shaped member seated within and secured to a second generally U-shaped member wherein leg portions of said first member are spaced from adjacent leg portions of said second member and further wherein said adjacent first and second member leg portions form said first and second nozzles of said nozzle assemblies.
31. The apparatus as in claim 30 wherein said support means, said pivoting means, and said delivery means includes a header member and further wherein said gas flows through said header member and out of said nozzles between said adjacent legs of said U-shaped members.
32. A method of supporting a strand comprising:
positioning a strand between a pair of first and second spaced apart nozzles;
tilting said nozzles generally towards each other such that a generally upwardly directed gas stream issuing from said first nozzle of each of said pairs of nozzles intersects a generally upwardly directed gas stream issuing from said second nozzle of said pair along a line;
supporting said nozzles in a generally inclined orientation;
providing pressurized gas to said nozzles wherein said line of intersection between gas streams from each of said pairs of first and second nozzles and a strand positioned between each of said pairs of nozzles each forms a generally vertical plane.
positioning a strand between a pair of first and second spaced apart nozzles;
tilting said nozzles generally towards each other such that a generally upwardly directed gas stream issuing from said first nozzle of each of said pairs of nozzles intersects a generally upwardly directed gas stream issuing from said second nozzle of said pair along a line;
supporting said nozzles in a generally inclined orientation;
providing pressurized gas to said nozzles wherein said line of intersection between gas streams from each of said pairs of first and second nozzles and a strand positioned between each of said pairs of nozzles each forms a generally vertical plane.
33. The method as in claim 32 further including the step of providing a plurality of adjacent nozzle assemblies each having first and second nozzles wherein said first nozzle of a first nozzle assembly is spaced from and tilted toward said second nozzle of a second nozzle assembly adjacent to said first nozzle assembly.
34. The method as in claim 33 further including the step of pivotally mounting said nozzle assemblies to allow rotational movement of said assemblies about a horizontal axis generally transverse to said strand.
35. The method as in claim 33 further including the steps of providing an alignment plate having spaced apart fingers and aligning said spacings between said adjacent fingers with the spacing between said first and second nozzles on adjacent nozzles assemblies.
36. The method as in claim 33 further including the steps of advancing said stand between said nozzle assemblies and orienting said nozzle assemblies such that said streams issuing from said nozzles have a horizontal component in the same direction as the advancing direction of the strand.
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| US07/588,623 | 1990-09-26 | ||
| US07/589,223 US5197202A (en) | 1990-09-26 | 1990-09-26 | Method and apparatus for drying and curing a coated strand |
| US07/589,223 | 1990-09-26 | ||
| US07/588,623 US5052125A (en) | 1990-09-26 | 1990-09-26 | Method and apparatus for supporting strand |
Publications (2)
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|---|---|
| CA2050543A1 CA2050543A1 (en) | 1992-03-27 |
| CA2050543C true CA2050543C (en) | 1998-09-01 |
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| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2050543 Expired - Fee Related CA2050543C (en) | 1990-09-26 | 1991-09-03 | Method and apparatus for drying, curing and supporting a coated strand |
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| EP (2) | EP0477807B1 (en) |
| JP (1) | JPH0669900B2 (en) |
| AU (1) | AU635861B2 (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2050543C (en) |
| DE (2) | DE69120187T2 (en) |
| ES (2) | ES2090196T3 (en) |
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| DE10225753B4 (en) * | 2002-06-10 | 2009-08-13 | Duo Technik Gmbh | drying device |
| US20150014437A1 (en) * | 2013-07-12 | 2015-01-15 | Marel Meat Processing Inc. | Air impingement nozzle |
| CN113322604B (en) * | 2020-08-18 | 2023-04-28 | 山东玻纤集团股份有限公司 | Automatic coating device for glass fiber yarns |
| CN114214745B (en) * | 2020-12-08 | 2023-01-10 | 中国纺织科学研究院有限公司 | Inflator for fiber gas drying device |
| CN112717440A (en) * | 2020-12-09 | 2021-04-30 | 安徽金禾实业股份有限公司 | Curved viscous material thermal separation device |
| CN113670049A (en) * | 2021-08-13 | 2021-11-19 | 陈静 | Weaving pencil drying device |
| CN115532469B (en) * | 2022-09-09 | 2023-09-05 | 无锡福田包装制品有限公司 | Plastic part coating equipment of electric vehicle |
| CN117283766A (en) * | 2022-10-17 | 2023-12-26 | 江苏林德曼新材料科技有限公司 | Inclined vacuum drying device for PET material processing |
| CN116242117B (en) * | 2023-03-10 | 2024-10-29 | 宁波志圣烘箱有限公司 | A tray detection device in an oven |
Family Cites Families (11)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US2308767A (en) * | 1939-05-18 | 1943-01-19 | Mark W Mayes | Apparatus for dehydrating yarn |
| US2351549A (en) * | 1941-10-16 | 1944-06-13 | Proctor & Schwartz Inc | Method for treating filaments and threads |
| DE1097943C2 (en) * | 1958-10-11 | 1974-04-04 | Krantz Soehne H | Nozzle arrangement for floating guidance of material webs in nozzle dryers |
| GB894237A (en) * | 1959-07-09 | 1962-04-18 | Ameliorair Soc | Improvements in drying apparatus for products in the form of a sheet permeable to gases |
| US3750302A (en) * | 1971-04-23 | 1973-08-07 | Du Pont | Jet device |
| IT951025B (en) * | 1971-04-28 | 1973-06-30 | Monforts Fa A | PLANT FOR THE DRIVING AND TRANSPORT IN THE FLOATING STATE OF MATTER EXTENDED IN WIDTH |
| SE393826B (en) * | 1974-05-29 | 1977-05-23 | Svenska Flaektfabriken Ab | ARRANGEMENTS THAT WHEN TRANSPORTING A BAN OR SHEET OF AIR-SUPPORTED MATERIAL, IN FRONT OF THE MATERIAL IN A FIXED STABLE FLOATING THROUGH ONE OR SEVERAL FLOORS OF A TREATMENT PLANT, ONE ... |
| GB1556755A (en) * | 1976-12-10 | 1979-11-28 | Pickerings Ltd E | Drying apparatus |
| DE3138637A1 (en) * | 1981-09-29 | 1983-04-14 | Gebrüder Sucker, 4050 Mönchengladbach | Process and device for the drying of running yarn sets |
| SE451125B (en) * | 1983-06-03 | 1987-09-07 | Tetra Pak Ab | DEVICE FOR THE TREATMENT OF A CURRENT PACKAGING MATERIAL COAT WITH MEDIUM FLOWING GAS |
| DE3607371C1 (en) * | 1986-03-06 | 1987-08-20 | Hilmar Vits | Device for the floating guiding of material webs using a gaseous or liquid medium |
-
1991
- 1991-09-03 CA CA 2050543 patent/CA2050543C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1991-09-06 AU AU83658/91A patent/AU635861B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1991-09-21 DE DE1991620187 patent/DE69120187T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1991-09-21 ES ES91116097T patent/ES2090196T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1991-09-21 EP EP91116097A patent/EP0477807B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1991-09-21 ES ES94120884T patent/ES2110176T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1991-09-21 EP EP94120884A patent/EP0648991B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1991-09-21 DE DE1991628098 patent/DE69128098T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 1991-09-26 JP JP3248068A patent/JPH0669900B2/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| EP0477807A2 (en) | 1992-04-01 |
| EP0648991B1 (en) | 1997-10-29 |
| JPH04286576A (en) | 1992-10-12 |
| DE69128098D1 (en) | 1997-12-04 |
| EP0477807A3 (en) | 1992-11-19 |
| ES2090196T3 (en) | 1996-10-16 |
| DE69120187D1 (en) | 1996-07-18 |
| CA2050543A1 (en) | 1992-03-27 |
| AU8365891A (en) | 1992-04-02 |
| EP0477807B1 (en) | 1996-06-12 |
| AU635861B2 (en) | 1993-04-01 |
| EP0648991A2 (en) | 1995-04-19 |
| DE69120187T2 (en) | 1997-01-30 |
| ES2110176T3 (en) | 1998-02-01 |
| DE69128098T2 (en) | 1998-05-20 |
| EP0648991A3 (en) | 1995-06-07 |
| JPH0669900B2 (en) | 1994-09-07 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| EEER | Examination request | ||
| MKLA | Lapsed |